Post-Thanksgiving-Day Detox

by Megan O. Steintrager

on 11/29/13 at 11:00 AM

So you overdid it a little (or a lot) on Thanksgiving and you're looking to dial back the damage? Below are some easy, relatively painless ways to detox by trimming added sugar, saturated fat, and calories, and adding healthy produce. Just follow this plan for as many days as you overindulged, starting anytime from today to several days after the big feast. No meal skipping or drastic measures required (or suggested!).

1. Get the heaviest stuff out of your house. Take a tip from pastry chef Nick Malgieri (who recently lent his expertise on cutting down on sugar to Epi) and send your Thanksgiving guests home with most of the pie, stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, and other caloric treats. If it's not around, you can't eat it.

3. Slash the "SoFAS." Nope, I don't mean getting off the sofa to exercise (though that's a great way to combat holiday weight gain), but rather cutting back on solid fat and added sugar, a.k.a. empty calories.

5. Have a glass of red wine. Having one small drink with dinner makes cutting back on sugar, fat, and calories not feel so harsh. And since studies suggest that red wine in moderation is good for your heart, that drink might also mitigate the effects of your Thanksgiving blowout.